Savage hoping for better results vs. UNC

PISCATAWAY — Tom Savage took advantage of a rare Saturday off by watching what he loves most on television: College football.

The Rutgers quarterback tried his best not to be analytical about what he was watching, although he admitted there were times when he wondered whether a successful pass play would work had he run it.

“”It’s just fun,” Savage said, sounding more like a typical college sophomore than the second-year starting quarterback he’s known as. “”I’m more like a fan out there. I watch the teams that have the good quarterbacks.”

He watched Heisman Trophy candidate Andrew Luck throw for four touchdowns as Stanford routed Wake Forest 68-24 late Saturday night, and the way Savage’s own luck has fared through his first two games Rutgers fans can only hope he picked up some pointers.

“”That’s an off day (for Luck),” Savage said, smiling following practice Monday.

For his part, Savage is hoping for better results when the Scarlet Knights play host to North Carolina on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ESPNU) at Rutgers Stadium.

While he has engineered the Scarlet Knights to a pair of victories, Savage has completed just 17 of 34 passes for 220 yards, including a touchdown and an interception, in what marks the worst statistical slump in his 14-game career.

Savage said his main goals this week are “”stay poised and to move the sticks.” Both sound simple enough, but after leading Rutgers to only eight first downs while throwing for 72 yards in the Scarlet Knights’ most recent outing, a 19-14 win at FIU, Savage certainly would be satisfied with an efficient offensive performance that leads to a victory over the Tar Heels.

“”I just have to go out there and make the throws and stay on the field as much as I can,” said Savage, whose 108.2 pass efficiency rating is last among the Big East’s eight starting quarterbacks. “”Quarterback is all about getting into the groove so I just have to make that first pass and keep going.”

While North Carolina’s defensive secondary was hit the hardest in the NCAA’s ongoing investigation into whether the Tar Heels gained agent-related benefits this past summer, Savage insists that he’s preparing for the most formidable defense he will face this season.

“”They’re a quick, talented and athletic team so we’re just going to have to go out there and play our best,” Savage said. “”We don’t pay any attention (to those suspensions). That’s their business and we try to stay out of that. We have a game to play and we have to be focused on that.”